ALBUQUERQUE EXPLOSION-THE LATESTThe Latest: 'Improvised explosion' kills 1 in AlbuquerqueALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police say an "improvised explosion" detonated in an alley behind a strip mall in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has killed a man believed to be behind the device.Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier said Monday the blast didn't appear to be linked to any terrorist act but the FBI is investigating. The name of the man killed has not been released and police don't know if he was connected to the shopping center.Geier told reporters police believed there was no perceived threat to anybody else and there were no other suspects.He said no direct residents were near the blast but it had a radius of about 75 meters and could be heard around two miles away.Businesses in the west side mall were evacuated after the early afternoon explosion.

FAST TRACK LEGISLATION-NEW MEXICONew Mexico governor approves previously vetoed initiativesSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed 42 bills that were vetoed by her Republican predecessor.The bills signed into law on Monday span issues from teacher pensions to child foster care and public disclosures by lobbyists.Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf said at a bill signing ceremony that there have never been so many bills approved in so little time. The legislature convened Jan. 15. Both Republican and Democratic legislators attended the ceremony to applaud the bill approvals.The signed bills would close a loophole that allowed lobbyists to buy politicians meals and drinks of up to $100 without disclosure. Another bill would boost pensions for teachers with good work attendance. First priority will go to relatives' homes when children are placed in foster care.BABY SHOT IN FACENew Mexico man linked to baby shooting released from jailGALLUP, N.M. (AP) — A man facing child abuse charges after a 3-year-old boy allegedly shot his 8-month-old sister in a New Mexico motel has been released.The Gallup Independent reports Tyrell Bitsilly was released from custody Friday after a district judge reduced his bond from $70,000 to $20,000.The 21-year-old Bitsilly was arrested in December after police found his girlfriend's infant daughter with a gunshot wound to the face. Bitsilly and 18-year-old Shayanne Nelson told police they were showering at a Gallup motel when the boy found the gun and accidentally shot his sister.Bitsilly is facing charges of child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, child abuse not resulting in great bodily harm and tampering with evidence.Nelson also is facing child abuse charges. She was released from jail last month.PEOPLE-MICHAEL SAMMichael Sam, gay player drafted in NFL, to speak at UNMALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be drafted in any major U.S. sport, is scheduled to speak at the University of New Mexico.The former University of Missouri football standout is slated to address student on Feb. 12, in Albuquerque. Sam is expected to tell students how to use personal strengths to pursue one's own dreams.Sam made history in 2014 when he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League in the seventh round. He stepped away from football in August 2015 due to mental health reasons.He currently shares his experiences as a motivational speaker.

RED MESA REVIEWUNM-Gallup teachers want to bring back 'Red Mesa Review'(Information from: Gallup Independent, http://www.gallupindependent.com)GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — Four University of New Mexico-Gallup teachers are planning to revive a once-popular literary magazine on campus.The Gallup Independent reports the teachers want to bring back the Red Mesa Review after a two-year hiatus.The four faculty members, who refer to themselves as the "collective editorial board," are planning to have their earliest issue published sometime this year.The magazine will feature short stories, poems and essays. It will also include art and photography.The editorial board is looking for poetry, short fiction, essays and black and white artwork with a Four Corners or Southwestern focus.___BORDER-FRESHMAN CONGRESSWOMANRep. Torres Small: I seek border fixes, not media attentionALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Xochitl (ZOH'-cheel) Torres Small of New Mexico says she doesn't mind not getting as much attention as other freshmen in Congress because she has other goals.The freshman Democratic congresswoman from southern New Mexico told The Associated Press she wants to find solutions to issues along the U.S.-Mexico border and is not "trying to be the loudest."Since winning a closely watched election, Torres Small has been overshadowed in media by the likes of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Boston. Both have pushed for the federal government to defund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Torres Small says she's honored to serve among a diverse set of representatives but thinks immigration authorities should have more resources and more oversight.

BERNALILLO COUNTY-DEPUTY SHOOTINGSBernalillo County to settle lawsuit in deadly 2017 shooting(Information from: KRQE-TV, http://www.krqe.com)ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Bernalillo County will pay almost $2 million to settle a series of lawsuits stemming from a deputy's 2017 fatal shooting of two unarmed suspects.KRQE-TV reports the county will make a $1.75 million payout to resolve litigation in the shooting that resulted in the deaths of driver Isaac Padilla and passenger Martin Jim.Authorities say Deputy Joshua Mora, the undersheriff's son, pursued a stolen vehicle in November 2017.The chase ended with Mora fatally shooting the two men.Mora had said he feared for the safety colleagues when Padilla revved the engine after being cornered.He declined to comment when reached by the news station.The incident sparked calls for body cameras, which Sheriff Manuel Gonzales has refused to use.His department has faced lawsuits in other deadly force cases.___SPORTS BETTING-LEAGUE ROYALTIESUS sports leagues split on how to monetize sports bettingATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — America's major professional sports leagues are split on how to get a piece of the action from legal sports betting after failing to get early adopting states to cut them in.But they are back in the game this year with several state legislatures considering granting them fees from sports bets.The National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League fought to stop the spread of sports gambling for years. But they retrenched in their positions after a key loss — a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that granted New Jersey and other states the option to allow wagering.Thus far, no state has approved the 0.25 percent fee that baseball and basketball want from the total of all bets made on their sports.Leagues have separately contracted with individual gambling companies to monetize league data and logos.